2 Crônicas 10

2 Crônicas 10

Morgan - The old men had counselled Rehoboam to conciliate the people by yielding to their appeal for relief from burdens imposed upon them by Solomon. His folly was manifested in his allowing himself to be influenced by the advice of the hot-headed youth of his court, who counselled him to rule autocratically, and to impose still heavier burdens on the people. The advice of the elders was inspired by desire for true national well-being. The advice of the young men was inspired by selfish passion for place and power. The whole situation was a difficult one. There is no doubt that Solomon had been an autocrat, and had ruled with a hand of iron under the velvet. Some of the worst tyrants the world has ever had have- robbed the people of their rights, and kept them passive by the drug of gorgeous display. So did Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence, and so did Charles I. With the death of Solomon men breathed anew, and discovered their chains. Now was the time for a bid for freedom. Jeroboam returned from Egypt to be the spokesman of this movement. Here was Rehoboam's chance, and he missed it by taking wrongly motived advice. The result was immediate. Ten tribes revolted. The nation was rent in twain, and, judging by human calculation, Judah was on the verge of a war which would have ended in her defeat and subjugation. Then God interfered. No human folly has ever been permitted to continue long enough to thwart His purposes. Shemaiah, a prophet of God, declared to Rehoboam that the revolt was in the Divine plan. He immediately submitted; and the period of the two kingdoms commenced. James Butler - CHOOSING POOR COUNSELLORS 2 Chronicles 10:8 “He forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him” (2 Chronicles 10:8). When Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne, he made a colossal mistake. The people had asked him to ease up on the oppressive conditions which Solomon had imposed upon the people in the latter years of his reign. Rehoboam sought counsel to know how to respond to the people. Our text tells of the poor choice which Rehoboam made which eventually resulted in the kingdom splitting. Rehoboam acts much like many of our politicians. He had no heart for the people but only for himself. It ruined the government. Self-aggrandizement never built a strong nation of character. When politicians are more concerned about their privileges than their responsibilities, it bodes ill for the people over whom they govern. So it was when Rehoboam came to the throne and showed which counsel he preferred. FIRST—FORSAKEN COUNSEL “He forsook the counsel which the old men gave him.” These old men had experience and wisdom. Their counsel was both compassionate and courageous. • Compassionate counsel. These older men told Rehoboam to ease up on the oppressive rules of the government. A ruler’s power is not to hurt the people but to help them. But too often rulers use their power to fleece the people rather than “feed” them (1 Chronicles 11:2). The older counsellors were compassionate for the people. • Courageous counsel. The old men could not help but know that their counsel was not popular with the king. Seldom is right popular. Wrong usually is the popular philosophy of mankind. But these older men were brave and spoke what was right anyway. It takes courage to speak the truth especially in places where the truth is not acceptable. SECOND—FAVORED COUNSEL “Took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.” These were not good men, for they knew nothing but luxury and ease having been brought up with Rehoboam. Their counsel, not unexpectantly, was cruel and cowardly. • Cruel counsel. These young men counseled Rehoboam to be even harder on the people than Solomon. Raise the taxes, oppress the people was their advice. This was extremely cruel to the Israelites but the young counsellors were thinking of themselves and wanted to be sure their income was not reduced. Selfishness is cruel. • Cowardly counsel. These young men had their finger in the air and knew what sort of counsel Rehoboam wanted. These young men thought of their position and wanted to be in favor with Rehoboam. So like many preachers today, they told Rehoboam what he wanted to hear, not what he needed to hear. It takes much courage to speak and live the truth and these young men did not have such character. 2 Chronicles 10:9 So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” What advice: 2Ch 10:6 2Sa 17:5,6 1Ki 22:6-8 Ease: 2Ch 10:4 Related Passages: 1 Kings 12:9+ So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us - What is sad is there is no mention of either consulting the Word of God or asking the God of the Word His counsel. 2 Chronicles 10:10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! Thus shalt: 2Sa 17:7-13 Pr 21:30 Isa 19:11-13 My little finger: "My weakness," says the Targumist, "shall be stronger than the might of my father." 1Ki 12:10,11 Pr 10:14 13:16 14:16 18:6,7 28:25 29:23 Related Passages: Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 18:6-7 A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows. 7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 28:25 An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. 1 Kings 12:10+ The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ But you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ - Rehoboam would have been wise to consult the words of his father (see above). These young men likely never experienced the heavy yoke and thus had no compassion for the masses who did. Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! - Their advice is the opposite of that given by the elders. A proverbial mode of expression: "My little finger is thicker than my father's thigh." Rehoboam is saying in essence as much as the thigh surpasses the little finger in thickness (but see Ryken below), so much does my power exceed that of my father; and the use I shall make of it to oppress and tax you shall be in proportion. Foolish, arrogant move to think he was more powerful than his father Solomon! Ryken on My little finger - The language they used to say this was crude, rude, and abusive—an obvious sign of spiritual immaturity. When they talked about Rehoboam’s “little finger,” they actually said “little one,” referring to a different part of his anatomy altogether. Iain Provan adds "The Hebrew here is lit. “my little one is thicker than my father’s loins.” If the “little one” is a finger, this is the only place in the OT where it is so. Given the location of the loins in the lower part of the body, and the fact that power and sexual potency were very much associated in the ancient Near East (cf. the commentary on 1 Kgs. 1:1–4), it may well be that the “little one” is in fact the male sexual organ. It is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility that young men might respond to a challenge by using language containing fairly basic sexual imagery. Whatever is the case, the claim is that Rehoboam is a bigger man than his father—a power to be reckoned with. (See 1 & 2 Kings (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) - Page 58) 2 Chronicles 10:11 ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” my father: 2Ch 10:4 I will put: Ex 1:13,14 5:5-9,18 1Sa 8:18 Isa 47:6 58:6 Jer 28:13,14 Mt 11:29 scorpions: Lu 10:19 Rev 9:3,5,10 Related Passages: 1 Kings 12:11+ ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” Figurative Whip with Scorpions ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” The "scorpions" probably referred to particularly painful multi-tailed lashes with barbed hooks, although it may be possible that the threatened punishment involved actual scorpion stings. Bob